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Crossroads, Maldives’ first integrated tourist destination, celebrates official opening
Crossroads Maldives, the largest integrated leisure and lifestyle destination in Maldives by Thailand’s leading real estate developer, Singha Estate Public Company Limited, has finally opened its doors on its two of the nine islands.
After two years in development, Crossroads was inaugurated at a ceremony on Thursday. Vice President Faisal Naseem, tourism minister Ali Waheed, science and technology minister Mohamed Maleeh Jamal, and fisheries minister Zaha Waheed attended the ceremony.
Vice President Naseem congratulated Singha Estate on the visionary project and said Crossroads provices resources to better understand the Maldives: the Maldives Cultural Centre is a place to catch a glimpse of Maldives’ rich history and heritage, and promote local arts and crafts, whilst the Marine Discovery Centre will help visitors understand the environmental situation.
“Initiatives such as these will help underscore the paramount importance of ensuring that these assets are preserved well into the future,” he said.
Expressing confidence that the project will help boost the economy, the vice president identified that it will provide several employment opportunities to the youth who are eager to unlock their potential by pursuing careers in the hospitality industry. He also expressed his hope that women would take up the employment opportunities at Crossroads.
“It is the aim of this government to ensure that women are able to participate in all our key industries on an equal footing with men,” he said.
The ceremony also celebrated the rich history and the prestigious nature of the island nation through various captivating performances including one by popular local singer Mariyam Maeesha, screening of History Channel’s short documentary, “The Making of Crossroads Maldives”, a light and sound show, and an aerial silk show.
Crossroads, a deeply sustainable development owned by Thailand’s leading developer Singha Estate, encompasses nine idyllic islands fringing the Emboodhoo Lagoon in the South Male Atoll. Two of the islands have been used for the first phase of the project.
The first island is home to the vibrant lifestyle district and heart of the mega project, The Marina @ Crossroads — an 11,000sqm retail and entertainment space.
Due to its proximity to the capital city, the attraction serves to inspire the meeting of cultures between locals and visitors, very much the same way the country had done in the past, catering to a variety of lifestyle inclinations including luxury shopping, fine dining, a state-of-the-art event hall, and PADI-certified water sports and dive centre.
A transit hotel, SAii Lagoon Maldives, a Curio Collection by Hilton, targets short-term visitors who can utilise the facilities at the town centre during their stopover for connecting flights.
The sustainable development aspect of the project can be seen through the efforts made at Maldives Discovery Centre, an interactive educational-centre-cum-museum that promotes environmental conservation and Maldivian local arts and crafts. Another is Marine Discovery Centre, one of the region’s most advanced marine life laboratories, that hosts biologists who carry out research and longitudinal studies on sea-life and coral propagation through a Junior Coral Curator programme and a clownfish release initiative that span within the area of 64,000 square meters.
The second island is Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, developed and managed by Singha Estate’s hospitality arm, S Hotels & Resorts. The hotel introduces memorable music-inspired stays featuring a full range of signature experiences and facilities for all ages. Hard Rock Hotel Maldives is also the brand’s first Maldivian outpost.
Crafted under the tagline “Crossroads: Where Cultures Meet”, world-renowned architects, Bensley Design, honours the Maldives’ historical greatness as a crossroads of ancient maritime trade routes between the East and the West. The creation of Marina @ Crossroads is a glorious marriage of old-world French designs, traditional Arabic themes, as well as design concepts from Portugal, China, and Britain.
“With Cross, we are making history. The project has been an exciting and challenging venture to plan and implement for all parties involved: Thai, Maldivian, and international. And today officially marks our first outstanding achievement. By being the largest integrated leisure and entertainment destination in the Maldives, Crossroads will help maintain the notable and continuously rising tourism markets such as China, India, and the Middle East, and attract new market segments of family and locals to the Maldives,” Chutinant Bhirombhakdi, Chairman of Singha Estate, said.
“Crossroads is going to redefine vacation experience in the Maldives and the entire Indian Ocean region whilst also being deeply sustainable and considerate of its environment, history, and culture.”
Naris Cheyklin, Chief Executive Officer of Singha Estate, said that whilst setting sight on promoting tourism and the local economy, Crossroads is also committed to its mission of “building big, protecting the small” — fashioning a mega project whilst promoting the livelihoods of its inhabitants.
During the construction, there was no concrete mixing and no plastering. Singha Estate commissioned all of the projects’ mega structures to be made in Thailand before being shipped to the Maldives in giant container vessels to avoid harming coral reefs and sea-life.
Crossroads also will be home to the Eight New Wonders of the Maldives, consisting of a coral village, iconic tuna sculptures, sunset point, and Emboodhoo canyon, amongst others.
RAAYA by Atmosphere has received its latest recognition at the Travel Time Awards, held in Moscow in August 2026, where the island resort was named “The Best Family Resort in the Maldives 2025”.
The award marks RAAYA’s second consecutive recognition from Travel Time, following its win as “Opening of the Year 2024”.
The recognition reflects the resort’s growing presence in the Russian travel market and its approach to family holidays in the Maldives, with a focus on shared experiences, exploration and activities designed for guests across generations.
Located on a private island in Raa Atoll, RAAYA is centred around the fictional story of Seb, a shipwrecked artist and adventurer whose narrative is incorporated throughout the resort experience. Guests can take part in island exploration, creative activities and ocean-based experiences, alongside family-oriented facilities and a range of dining options under The RAAYA Plan™.
The award was also presented during a visit to the resort by Russian film actress Katerina Shpitsa, known for productions including “Metro”, “The Crew” and “Poddubny”. During her stay, Shpitsa presented the Travel Time Awards 2025 accolade to RAAYA by Atmosphere General Manager Mario Stanic.
“Receiving this recognition for a second consecutive year is a proud moment for everyone at RAAYA,” Stanic said. “Winning the Travel Time Award 2025 for Best Family Resort is a wonderful recognition of what we stand for — bringing families together through shared experiences and lasting memories within a backdrop of a tropical island paradise.
“We are proud to create experiences that resonate with Russian families and families from around the world, offering a place to connect, discover and create memories together. We thank the awards team, our partners and our guests for their continued trust and support.”
The award adds to the international recognition received by RAAYA by Atmosphere since the resort opened in July 2024. The property has positioned its offering around experiential hospitality, design, family-focused programming and its castaway-inspired narrative.
RAAYA features 167 beach and overwater villas, a collection of dining venues and a range of land and ocean activities within its Raa Atoll setting.
With two Travel Time Awards in consecutive years, the resort continues to develop its position within the family travel segment in the Maldives.
Sun Siyam Olhuveli Maldives will welcome award-winning food creator Kabita Singh, the personality behind Kabita’s Kitchen, for a special culinary residency in October to mark International Chefs’ Day on 20 October 2026.
Known for making everyday Indian cooking accessible to a wide audience, Singh will move from her digital kitchen to the Maldives, joining the resort’s culinary team for a live cooking experience created for guests.
The collaboration will bring together Singh’s approach to Indian cuisine — centred on familiar flavours, accessible recipes and an increasing focus on wholesome cooking — with Sun Siyam’s Plant Based Bliss philosophy, which promotes the nutritional and holistic benefits of plant-forward dining.
As part of the International Chefs’ Day celebrations, Singh will cook alongside Sun Siyam Olhuveli’s culinary team during a live session in front of resort guests. The experience will feature a specially curated selection of vegetarian, vegan and health-conscious dishes developed in collaboration with the resort’s chefs and inspired by Singh’s own cooking philosophy.
Guests will have the opportunity to watch Singh prepare the dishes, learn about the techniques and stories behind them, and sample her interpretation of plant-forward Indian cuisine in a Maldivian island setting.
Kabita’s Kitchen has grown from a home-cooking channel into one of India’s most widely followed food platforms, with approximately 14.6 million subscribers on YouTube alone. Singh has built her audience through content ranging from regional favourites and vegetarian staples to festive dishes, street-food classics and everyday family recipes.
Her influence within India’s food and digital content sector was recognised at the inaugural National Creators Award in 2024, where she received the Best Creator in Food Category award, presented by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“We are really excited to welcome Kabita to Olhuveli and bring a taste of Kabita’s Kitchen to the Maldives,” said Hassan Adil, General Manager of Sun Siyam Olhuveli.
“Food is such an important part of the way people connect, and this is about bringing our guests closer to the experience, watching Kabita cook, discovering the flavours and stories behind her dishes, and of course tasting them together. Her fresh, approachable style is a great match for our Plant Based Bliss philosophy, and celebrating International Chefs’ Day together with our own culinary team makes it even more special. We want dining at Olhuveli to be fun, social and full of moments that guests remember long after they leave the island.”
Located in South Malé Atoll, Sun Siyam Olhuveli is part of Sun Siyam’s Lifestyle Collection. The resort combines beach experiences, dining, entertainment, wellness and other activities within its broader island offering.
You & Me Maldives has been named Best Adults-Only Resort at the Travel Trade Maldives (TTM) Awards 2026, recognising the resort’s positioning, guest experiences and continued focus on adults-only hospitality in the Maldives.
The award was presented during the TTM Awards & Gala 2026, held at CROSSROADS Maldives on 27 August 2026, marking the conclusion of the 10th edition of TTM Maldives. The annual awards recognise achievements, innovation and contributions across the Maldivian tourism industry.
Located in Raa Atoll, You & Me Maldives has established itself as an adults-only retreat catering to couples, honeymooners, friends and solo travellers seeking privacy and tranquillity.
The resort combines its island setting with accommodation, personalised service and experiences centred on romance, wellness, gastronomy and exploration, creating an intimate environment designed specifically for adult travellers.
The recognition comes as You & Me Maldives marks seven years of operations and welcoming guests from around the world.
“As we celebrate this important milestone, we are deeply grateful to our loyal guests, partners, and dedicated team members who have been part of this journey,” said Mohamed Imthiyaz, General Manager of You & Me Maldives.
“These seven years represent not only growth and success, but countless love stories, memories, and unforgettable experiences created on our island. Receiving the ‘Best Adults-Only Resort’ award at the TTM Awards is a tremendous honour and a reflection of the passion and dedication of our entire team.”
The Best Adults-Only Resort award further strengthens You & Me Maldives’ position within the Maldives’ luxury hospitality sector, recognising its focus on combining an adults-only concept with personalised service and island experiences.
Looking ahead, You & Me Maldives plans to continue developing its concept and guest experience through new activities, offerings and services, while maintaining its focus on the adults-only luxury segment in the Maldives.
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